PLAY ABANDONED! Stumps! Day 4 has had an early finish with rain stopping play late in the third session. England end the day at 4-132 trailing by 127 runs.

Relive all of the highlights from the third session here:

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Rain has again halted play in the final session of play at the WACA. England were digging in sitting at 4-132 trailing Australia by 127 runs. Josh Hazelwood took two English wickets, Mitchell Starc also took the wicket of James Vince for 55. Nathan Lyon also removed Joe Root for 14.

This may serve as England’s best chance of saving this Test Match and keeping the series alive heading into the Boxing Day Test at the MCG on December 26.

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Mitchell Starc has produced a trademark Starc delivery during the third session of play at the WACA to dismiss set batsman James Vince. Bowling over the wicket to right handed Vince, Starc pitched one on off stump and struck a crack, getting the ball to deviate and crash into the stumps to end Vince’s innings.

Listen to Bruce Eva’s call of the ball here:

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RAIN DELAYS PLAY! The covers are on and an early Tea break has been taken with England in a tough position. They are 3-71 at the break, trailing by 188 runs. Josh Hazelwood was the chief destroyer for the Australian side taking 2/16 from his 6 overs.

Re live the second session highlights here:

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England’s run chase has hit shaky waters after losing 3 early wickets in the second session at the WACA. Josh Hazlewood claimed valuable scalps of Mark Stoneman and Alistair Cook before Nathan Lyon got the prized wicket of Joe Root when the visitors were on 60.

It leaves England seven wickets away from handing back the Ashes. Rain looks the likely winner in Perth with dark skies blanketing the ground.

England in all sorts at the moment and haven’t had a good run this match as statistician Lawrie Colliver mentioned here.

Colliver “England have lost their last 9 wickets for 99 runs in the match” #Ashes

Australia have declared just after Lunch on Day 4 at the WACA with a lead of 259 runs. Tim Paine finished unbeaten on 49 as the Aussies now look to roll the visitors in quick time. There is a lot of rain expected on Day 5 which means the Aussies will need to wrap things up on Day 4.

LUNCH on Day 4 has seen Australia go into the break with a 240 runs, with the home side currently 7-643. Tim Paine is unbeaten on 41 whilst Patrick Cummins ended the first session with a six and is unbeaten on 36.

Jimmy Anderson was the chief destroyer in the first hour, removing Mitch Marsh without scoring today, he ended his stand on 181 and Steve Smith was dismissed for 239 before Mitchell Starc was run out for one.

Listen to the first session Highlights here:

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John Emburey has filled the commentary team in on Craig Overton’s lack of bowling this innings which is attributed to the English quick sustaining a broken rib in this Test Match.

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Australia have suffered a mini collapse on Day 4 at the WACA losing 3-12 in a short period of time after such a dominant Day 3. Mitch Marsh was dismissed on the second ball of the day, before Smith was also dismissed early on off the bowling of Jimmy Anderson, after the English successfully reviewed the Not Out call by umpire Chris Gaffeney. Smtih’s innings ended on 239 after putting together one of the finer batting displays in recent memory.

Mitchell Starc was then caught in a mix up with Tim Paine and was run out for just 1.

Australia lead by 160 runs as they look to set England a big total to chase in the second innings. There is rain forecast for Perth on the final two days of play, which will make things interesting for the rest of this Test.

Listen to the commentary of Steve Smith’s dismissal below:

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Australia have lost their first wicket of the morning with Mitch Marsh given out LBW second ball of the session, off the bowling of Jimmy Anderson. Marsh chose to review the decision, but the ball was adjudged “Umpires Call” as it was clipping the top of middle stump. He did not add to his overnight score of 181.

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Australia took the points on Day three of the third Ashes Test in Perth after some stellar cricket from both Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh, both of whom have eclipsed their previous highest Test Match scores. Overnight, Smith sits on 229 while Marsh played a classy innings, ending the Day on 181 not out. Australia will resume at 4-549 on Day 4, where there is rain expected.

Shaun Marsh was the only Australian wicket to fall on Day 3, dismissed for 28 with Moeen Ali catching the edge, with Joe Root taking the catch at slip.

The English bowlers had no answers for the Australians with four of the seven bowlers getting hit for over 100 runs in their spells. They will hope that the rain sets in on Days 4 and 5, with the forecast not pretty for Perth on the final two days, and it may be the visitors only hope to keep the series alive going into the Boxing Day Test.